By Richard Sellers
First a disclaimer; I have not watched a single episode of this series until tonight. After the brain hemorrhage that was UnderCovers, I was less than thrilled to learn someone decided to throw more money at Abrams. Then Sam Atwood decided to move half-way around the world and I guess packing and relocating his family is more important than sharing with you his insights on J.J.’s newest craptastic endeavor. He asked me to fill in tonight and considering I’ll probably never see him again I just couldn’t say no (at least he didn’t ask for money).
I decided to treat this as an experiment and not watch the first three episodes just to see if this show wasn’t going to be the predictable, contrived pig slop that Abrams tried to force down our throats before. I wish I could tell you that I was wrong, but I’m so glad that I didn’t waste three hours of my life.
Much like any episode of UnderCovers this entry was so predictable it made Law & Order seem like Hitchcock. The plot was tired and overused and didn’t even bother trying to shake up things in the slightest. The underlying concept of a machine that predicts victims and crimes is hardly a new one and brings almost nothing to this standard procedural cop drama. Unless I missed something from the previous three episodes nothing about the mysteries seems all that mysterious or compelling.
When I first saw a preview of this series I wondered how Abrams duped Jim Caviezel into slumming it, but I thought think Michael Emerson took the job out of misguided loyalty. After watching this episode I think this was the only gig either one could get. Emerson seemed to be still playing Ben Lyons, but nowhere near as interesting and four times more wooden. Caviezel came off more creepy weirdo than tortured hero. Which didn’t work well in a scene were he attends a support group for rape survivors. He felt more like a predator stalking prey than hero trying to save a young woman.
Needless to say I don’t think I’ll be watching another episode. If by some miracle it makes it to season six I might try again, but for now I’ll leave it to Sam to bring you your weekly reports. I’m sorry Sam, I truly am.
As Always, Richard
Richard! It’s so good to have you back man. I’ve not bothered with anything after the pilot… glad to hear I’ve not been missing out.
What a shame, this show sounded like it had such promise. At least Abrams has given us other gems.
i understand is becoming predictable, but i am sensing that there is something more to what they are showing. and that intrigues me. i hope it gets better.